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Review: Belleruche - Limelight / Longer Days, Longer Nights [Single]

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Review: Belleruche - Limelight / Longer Days, Longer Nights [Single]

Tru Thoughts // "...I just feel a little of the spark has been lost, that old school magic they radiated has dissipated somewhat"

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Last Edited by: Ffion Davies October 26th, 2012.

I've been following Belleruche since their début release, Turntable Soul Music, back in 2007 and they've always excited me and captured my attention. Until recently. Now I'm not sure if this is because I've been so disappointed with their live sets or if it's the new material they're releasing. Upon listening to this double A-side single I think it's a mixture of both.

Belleruche are a unique ensemble, with Kathrin DeBoer's guttural, gritty vocals, Ricky Fabulous on the guitar and DJ Modest on the decks. The 3 combined created some absolute aural magic in the past with tracks like the bass heavy 'Rumble Strip' taken from their 2nd album The Express. Kathrin's lyrics were smart and her vocals intriguing, Fabulous created some killers riffs and hook lines and DJ Modest's ability to bring a track together mixing beats and breaks finished the product off.

LISTEN // 'Limelight'

With this new release taken from their current album Rollerchain, I can't help but feel the magic is lost. The double A-side comprises of 'Limelight' and 'Longer Days, Longer Nights'. I'll start with 'Longer Days, Longer Nights' as it's my least favourite of the two tracks. A signature sounding riff line from Fabulous get's the track going but then it just goes into these generic hand claps and a really basic drum beat that just lacks creativity, the creativity I've come to expect from Belleruche. Kathrin's vocals don't do her abilities justice, the melody line jars and I'm just bored really.

LISTEN // 'Longer Days, Longer Nights'

Moving on to 'Limelight' and it's instantly more catchy. There's a really nice synth line running through this track and it's much better suited to Kathrin's vocals. Perhaps a bit of a cliché subject, yes it's about fame and yes it's all a bit obvious, but I'm liking the lyrics like "Train crash addict get your picture on the front page, Ingenious manufacture and a five page exposé, Babe in the woods time to write a book, Rack up a line of nothingness a scent of insignificance". Clearly Belleruche are just as tired of the celebrity culture thrust upon us and 'Limelight' pretty much sums up their disdain, as well as mine! Whilst 'Limelight' still lacks what I loved about Belleruche there is still something captivating about this track, definitely the stronger of the 2 on this release, why they chose to double A-side it with 'Longer Days, Longer Nights' is a mystery to me!

LISTEN // 'Rumble Strip'


As a bonus, and it really is, with this release you also get the Walter Ego remix of album track 'Henbane', which is fantastic; a real old school garage vibe to it and a bit reminiscent of the classic 'Battle' by Wookie, it definitely had me moving about more than the main tracks! Could cut a rug up to this for sure!

Also included on this release is Maurizio F remix of 'Stormbird' and Lying Teller remix of 'Under Fire', originals of both also taken from Belleruche's Rollerchain album and neither remix do much for me to be honest, but then the originals are yet to grab me either - as is the case with Rollerchain, and this double A-side release, I haven't been grabbed and smacked in the face like I was with previous offerings from Belleruche.

All in all, I just feel a little of the spark has been lost, that old school magic they radiated has dissipated somewhat. I think Belleruche have tried to experiment with their style and sound and, for me, this time it's not worked.

WATCH // 'Northern Girls'


Belleruche are finishing their UK and European tour as we speak, you can still catch them if you're quick. I'd recommend the London date is it also features set's from The Herbaliser, DJ Food and DJ Cam; 4-in-1 - nice! Tickets available here The Herbaliser + Belleruche + DJ Food + DJ Cam | Gigs and Tickets | SoundCrashMusic

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